News
& Events

Saudi Aramco exports world's first shipment of blue ammonia to Japan

28-09-2020

The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Sunday, that Aramco is in cooperation with the Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) and the Japanese Institute of Energy Economics, managed to produce and export the world's first shipment of high-quality blue ammonia to Japan. The agency mentioned 40 tons of high-quality blue ammonia were exported to Japan for use in carbon-free power generation amid expectations of an increasing role for hydrogen in the global energy system. It was noted that Ammonia is (a compound made up of three hydrogen atoms and one nitrogen atom) contribute to meeting the challenges of rising global energy demand in a reliable sustainable and affordable way. The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) pointed out that this achievement highlights are one of the many paths within the concept of the circular carbon economy which aims to reduce, remove, recycle and reuse carbon dioxide emissions instead of releasing them into the atmosphere. The agency quoted the chief technical officer of Saudi Aramco Ahmed Al-Khuwaiter, as saying that the use of hydrogen in the global energy system is increasing, adding that this first shipment in the world is an important opportunity for Saudi Aramco to showcase the potential of hydrocarbons as a reliable source of low-carbon hydrogen and ammonia. Al-Khuwaiter said that Aramco is working with different partners around the world to find solutions by deploying advanced technologies to produce low-carbon energy to meet the global climate challenge. Masakazu Toyoda Chairman and the CEO of the Japan Energy Economics Institute pointed to the importance of blue ammonia to Japan's ambition to reduce carbon emissions to maintain a balance between the environment and the economy. Also, it was mentioned about 10 percent of the energy in Japan can be generated by 30 million tons of blue ammonia. The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) quoted that Toyoda it’s possible to start the joint release of this substance in the current power plants and then finally move to unilateral burning of 100 percent blue ammonia.